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Providence Homecoming: Church celebrates its 177th year

Family members form a quartet for special music at Providence's homecoming. From left are Bridget and Michael Benton and Bill and Bea McKenzie. (Photo by Michael Eikenberry)
By MICHAEL EIKENBERRY
Special to The Newnan Times-Herald
Providence Baptist Church on Providence Church Road celebrated the congregation’s 177th year with a homecoming service and dinner on the grounds.
The service opened with a prelude on the organ by Judy Clark and a 27-voice adult choir singing the call to worship, “Over and Over, Amen.”

Ken Norton, Providence’s pastor, greeted the congregation and introduced the speaker for the service, Searcy Jackson. Jackson is a former pastor of Providence Baptist.
The choral praise songs included “I Just Feel Like Something Good is About to Happen” and “Send a Great Revival in my Soul.” There also was a vocal solo, and Mrs. Spencer Luckie played a instrumental on the organ, “Ring those Golden Bells.”
A quartet sang “Without Jesus You Won’t Make Heaven.” The singers included Bill McKenzie, the church’s minister of music, his wife, Bea McKenzie, and their daughter, Bridget Benton, and grandson Michael Benton.
Norton led children’s time, a short time for the children to come to the front of the sanctuary in which he usually tells a Bible story. On homecoming day, one of the children sang a short song.
The proclamation of God’s message was presented by Jackson – using Matthew 9:35 and Galatians 6:7. He talked about the compassion of Jesus and how the people who do the plowing also reap the harvest.

The invitation hymn was a old favorite song, “There’s Room at the Cross.” Randy McLain led the congregation in the closing prayer and the blessing of the food. The service was held at the historic church on Oct. 14.